ABC's Ross gave misleading account of Obama statements in order to assert inconsistency
SUMMARY: On Good Morning America, ABC's Brian Ross gave a misleading account of Sen. Barack Obama's comments regarding a real estate transaction to assert that Obama has "given a series of various explanations about the deal."
In a January 10 report about a real estate transaction involving Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tony Rezko, ABC's Brian Ross gave a misleading account of Obama's comments about the transaction in order to portray Obama as having "given a series of various explanations about the deal."
Ross reported, "For his part, Obama has given a series of various explanations about the deal. First, he told the Chicago Tribune that he didn't recall what his conversations were with Rezko. Four days later, he told the Chicago Sun-Times that he did recall telling Rezko about the property."
In fact, the accounts in the Tribune and the Sun-Times are similar. And in both papers, he was quoted indicating that he did not clearly recall what happened.
The Tribune reported that "Obama raised the possibility that he was the first to bring the lot to Rezko's attention" and quoted Obama as saying, "I may have mentioned to him the name of [a developer and] he may at that point have contacted that person. I'm not clear about that."
The Sun-Times quoted Obama as saying, "To the best of my recollection, I told him about the property, and he developed an interest, knowing both the location and, as I recall, the developer who had previously purchased it."
From the January 10 edition of ABC's Good Morning America:
ROSS: For his part, Obama has given a series of various explanations about the deal. First, he told the Chicago Tribune that he didn't recall what his conversations were with Rezko. Four days later, he told the Chicago Sun-Times that he did recall telling Rezko about the property.
From the November 1, 2006, Chicago Tribune:
Obama said his family's real estate broker brought the house to his wife's attention. He said he discussed the house with Rezko but isn't sure how Rezko began pursuing the adjacent lot. But Obama raised the possibility that he was the first to bring the lot to Rezko's attention.
"I don't recall exactly what our conversations were or where I first learned, and I am not clear what the circumstances were where he made a decision that he was interested in the property," Obama said.
"I may have mentioned to him the name of [a developer and] he may at that point have contacted that person. I'm not clear about that," Obama said.
From the November 5, 2006, Chicago Sun-Times:
Q: Did you approach Rezko or his wife about the property, or did they approach you?
A: To the best of my recollection, I told him about the property, and he developed an interest, knowing both the location and, as I recall, the developer who had previously purchased it.
Great..... another right-wing created WhiteWater non-controversy.......
The corporate run media is beyond deplorable and all these slimy 'media' figures will make mountains out of mole-hills to anyone that might threaten their 'profit' margins!
I have said this before and now again: "The vast majority of the media have decided that their million dollar contracts are more important to keep than the truth is!"
This is so beyond sad that it hurts just thinking about it!
I am not telling you who to vote for, but keep in mind that we need a healer.
Just so you all know some facts about this story:
In June 2005, Obama and Rezko purchased adjoining parcels in Kenwood. The state's junior senator paid $1.65 million for a Georgian revival mansion, while Rezko paid $625,000 for the adjacent, undeveloped lot. Both closed on their properties on the same day.
Last January [2005], aiming to increase the size of his sideyard, Obama paid Rezko $104,500 for a strip of his land.
The transaction occurred at a time when it was widely known Tony Rezko was under investigation by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and as other Illinois politicians befriended by Rezko distanced themselves from him.
In the Sun-Times interview, Obama acknowledged approaching Rezko about the two properties being up for sale and that Rezko developed an immediate interest. Obama did not explain why he reached out to Rezko given the developer's growing problems.
I would like to add here that if Hillary Clinton had been involved in this same situation, she would have been *crucified*.
Uhmmm, maybe because he wanted to buy the adjoining property and Rezko was the guy who owned it?
I know people like to make these "guilt by association" accusations - but you can't choose your neighbors.
Somebody please explain to me what the "scandal" is here?
Rezko was however charged with fraud and will be on trial in federal court next month.
How is he connected with Obama ?
- Obama claims that Rezko and Rezko's business partner called him "out of the blue" to ask Obama if he wanted to participate in some real estate developing. Obama said he told them no. Obama's explanation is that he had just become the head of the Harvard Law Review, so he had become well-known.
- Rezko and his friends have donated more than $100k to Obama's state senate campaign and US senate campaign. Rezko was one of his first donors. Rezko also hosted a fundraiser for Obama.
- Obama wrote letters to Chicago and Illinois officials supporting Rezko's bid to get more than $1.4 of taxpayer money to develop apartments for the elderly. "The deal included $855,000 in development fees for Rezko and his partner, Allison S. Davis, Obama's former boss" Prior to this discovery by the media, Obama had claimed that he'd never done Rezko any favors.
- Obama and Rezko purchased the side-by-side properties, closing on the same day. Obama hid his purchase behind a trust. Obama later purchased a slice of Rezko's property, but instead of paying the assessed fair value of $40k, he paid Rezko $100k.
- The son of one of Rezko's business partners gained an internship with Obama upon Rezko's request. That business partner donated more then $10k to Obama's state senate campaign, and he is also accused of federal fraud though he has not been indicted himself, mentioned in other indictments.
I am not saying that Obama is necessarily guilty of impropriety. But I don't think MMFA should just blow off this story as ridiculous MSM attacks. Expect to hear more about the story when Rezko goes to trial.
Imagine how Hillary would be treated if she were in this situation.